Surname Köpple - Meaning and Origin
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Köpple: What does the surname Köpple mean?
The last name Köpple is a German surname which is derived from the Middle High German word “Kopel”, meaning a “bowl” or “a kind of vessel”. It is believed that the Köpples derived their name from a family work, such as a potter, seller of such vessels or a barkeeper who sold beer in said vessels. It is also thought to have arisen as a nickname, referring to an individual who made and/or sold “Kopels” (bowls or vessels).
The Köpple name can be traced back to the 1400s, when it appeared in documents concerning the city of Passau. From there it spread to the surrounding regions of what is now there modern-day Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and even parts of Poland.
Today the Köpples are still quite a common name in Germany, with around 950 individual Köpples living there. The Köpples have also spread to other countries, particularly the United States, where there are now around 150 Köpples. Still, the name remains most populous in German-speaking regions of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisKöpple: Where does the name Köpple come from?
The last name Köpple is most commonly associated with families in the German speaking countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. While the Köpple spelling does appear in other countries and even in some other languages, the surname is most common in its native region.
In Germany, the name is particularly prevalent in the Bavarian region, particularly the counties of Bamberg and Upper Palatinate. In Austria, the Köpple family is predominantly found in Vienna, Lower and Upper Austria, and Styria. In Switzerland, Köpple is most common in Zurich, Basel, and Aargau.
The name has also been found as far south as Italy, particularly Milan and Cremona, in the Netherlands, where it is spelled Koopmans, and even as far away as Canada, though the spelling may differ slightly in each case.
The origin of the name is uncertain, but may have derived from the mid-13th century Latin phrase "quadra puella", meaning "a team of girls" or "four girls", suggesting a connection to a family of four daughters.
Generally, the name today is still most commonly associated with Germany and its surrounding countries, though other places have certainly popped up. Those who have the last name Köpple are unlikely to ever be far from one another.
Variations of the surname Köpple
Köpple is an uncommon German surname which has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Koeple or Kueple, both spelled with a "u" instead of the "ö". Other spelling variations include Köpfle, Köppl, Köppler, Köpel, Kaeper, Kaiple, Köbbel, Kepel and Küppel. It is also seen as Köppelmann or Köppelsmann in parts of Germany.
In some cases, the surname has also been Anglicized to Kapple or Kopple. This is particularly the case for families who have had emigrated to the US in the 19th century.
In addition, there are several related surnames such as Kappel and Kappler which are derived from the German word for church (Kirche) and can also be seen to be variants of Köpple.
The surname Köpple is generally believed to be derived from the word "Kuppe", which is an old German word meaning like a light hill or a height. This meaning could refer to a person coming from a high-population area or from those living on top of a hill. It could also be a regional name for someone coming from a place called Kuppen, meaning an upland.
Overall, the surname Köpple is quite uncommon and its variants and spellings are not extremely widespread. However, as a result of emigration to the US and other countries, the various variants, spellings and surnames related to Köpple have become more prominent in recent years.
Famous people with the name Köpple
- Emma Kopple, German actress and singer.
- Gerald Kopple, Canadian novelist.
- Thomas Köpple, German football coach.
- Felix Köpple, Austrian sculptor.
- Roger Köpple, Swiss-German economist and former Governor of the Swiss National Bank.
- Norbert Köpple, German ice hockey player.
- Horst Köpple, German author and theologian.
- Karen Köpple, American artist and sculptor.
- Ivanka Köpple, Czech singer and songwriter.
- Ragnar Köpple, Icelandic businessman and politician.